Anhelina Kalinina does not shake hands with Veronika Kudermetova: here is the explanation

Anhelina Kalinina does not shake hands with Veronika Kudermetova: here is the explanation

The Russia-Ukraine war again enters the world of sports, in this case tennis. At the end of the first semifinal of the women’s Internazionali d’Italia Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina, after beating Russian Veronika Kudermetova in three sets, refused to shake hands with her opponent at the end of the match. Here is her explanation.

“Why did I not shake Kudermetova’s hand? The reason is not secret, she is Russian: this is sport, but there is also something political about it. There is nothing personal, but war is unacceptable,” Kalinina said. “Who did I help in Ukraine? It’s not something I want to make public. It’s not too many people, though. My whole family is now in Kiev, my parents teach tennis. A few days ago there was a big bombing near the practice court-they live like that.” Anhelina’s grandparents used to live in Nova Kakhovka, in the territories occupied by Russian soldiers, “but now all my relatives are in Kiev,” says the 26-year-old Ukrainian woman, “It was impossible to stay and live there. There were too many weapons and too many soldiers near their home. It was difficult for them, they had been living there for 65 years.”

“My relationship with Kalinina given the Russia-Ukraine war? We athletes are here in Rome to play tennis, no matter what countries they come from,” Kudermetova replied.